Sustainability: A Lifestyle that Nourishes People, Planet, and Prosperity

Sustainability: 

A Lifestyle that Nourishes People, Planet, and Prosperity

Reported by Cik Betty Nurbaiti

Sustainability is not just a goal—it’s a lifestyle, a rhythm that aligns people, planet, and prosperity into one living ecosystem. 

It’s the glue that binds what we grow, what we eat, and how we live.

Before our upcoming Asia Pacific Sustainability Conference and Awards in Bali, I had the pleasure of hosting Ir. Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor and his team at our 22,000 sq ft sustainable urban farm—a living, breathing example of this harmony in motion. 

The farm produces up to 1.5 tonnes of organic Kambali Catfish each month, using a fully integrated aquaponics system where water spinach acts as a natural bio-filter. 

The fish are nourished with farm-made pellets, blending 19 high-protein ingredients such as tofu, corn, vegetables, and even Black Soldier Fly larvae collected from a neighboring hotel.

The results?

When tested, our catfish had Omega levels higher than salmon—a delicious testament to the power of circular design. 

Even the fish waste is composted to restore soil health, nurturing fruit trees that now thrive around the farm’s perimeter.

This initiative, a partnership between the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and MEA Aquaponics, emerged from the ashes of the Covid-19 crisis—a model of resilience and regeneration.

In return for free use of the council’s land, the farm addresses local food security, hosts urban farming workshops for schools and communities, and welcomes visitors from around the world to witness sustainability in action.

And when guests like Ir. Ts. Shamsul visit, they don’t just observe—they taste it: Panfried Catfish Fillet, Asam Pedas Catfish, Blanched Kangkung, and Quinin Mango Sambal Belacan—all sourced within meters.

That is sustainability as a lifestyle: nourishing bodies, healing the earth, and uniting communities—one plate at a time.

By Dr. Daniel CF Ng, Omni-Integra LLP